Yellowknife (Feb 09/05) - After 18 years of office experience, 15 of which were with the territorial government, Gail Chang has left the politics behind in favour of running her own company.

Officially starting in October, Wizard Office Services is located on Rivett Crescent just north of Wal-Mart.

As part of the company's services, she recently got certified as a notary public - something she thinks is in great demand these days.

"I was speaking with an individual working with one of the banks and she was pleased," she said. "She asked that I send a letter and notify a couple banks. Some of them don't have anyone to act in the capacity of notary public."

But Wizard is a lot more than a notary public for-hire.

Her experience in administration for the Government of the NWT means Chang can provide proposals, reports, create presentation materials, do word processing and provide transcription services.

"Transcription is a dying art," she said. "You have to be good at that one."

Based on her experience as a receptionist, Chang is also contracting herself out to companies needing a hand around the office.

"Helping with their filing system and cleaning it out on a yearly basis, that sort of thing," she said.

During her first few months in business, Wizard has been a little slow.

"I haven't done a lot of advertising," she said. "I would say I'm steady, not swamped."

Chang adds she received a lot of assistance from the people at the Akaitcho Business Development Corporation in launching her venture.

"First of all, they made me realize how important a business plan is," she said. "It makes you stop and think if there's a market, what your rates will be and what you want to offer."